Operator for ventilators



jan. 2, 1934. R s, PEELLE 1,941,909

OPERATOR F011 `VENTILAT0RS Filed April 10. 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet` l :l r 66"" I J l 27 l l 5 il? if; 113% 1| 11:11 "1114 Il W a; l'

l I O I b E 1 ,Q g l o L z WM W/f I Jan. 2, 1934. R s. PEELLE 1,941,909

OPERATOR FOR VENTILATORS Filed April lO. 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet '2 .59 59 50 l 1,9 $0 37 g jf 5I if ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 2, 1934 OPERATOR FOR VEN'IUJA'IGRS- Robert S. lpeelle, Hollis, AN. Y., assignor to The- Peelle Company, Brooklyn, N. Y., a' corporation of New York Application April 10, 1931. Serial No. 529,013

9 Claims.

The invention relates to operators for ventilators, and more particularly to a mechanism which may be brought within small compass so as to be capable of being embodied directly in the ventilator structure in a manner to apply power directly to the movable shutter of the ventilator.

In the operation of electric subway systems, one of the serious problems is to provide for an emergency ventilation of the subway, in the event of accidents resulting in the burning out of motors, or of the insulation upon feed wires, as a resul?u of which the subway becomes filled with fumes and smoke tending to create panic conditions amongst travellers,

To meet this condition, a large suction fan is provided adjacent the station platform and its associated openings which, in an emergency, is set in motion to move the smoke and fumes within the subway from about the train of cars to an adjacent opening, thus setting up a circulation of air from openings beyond a stalled train, so as to afford a properly ventilated path through which the travellers may pass to a point of safety remote from the train and from the suction fan creating the draught.

During ordinary operation of a subway system, it has been found necessary to provide normally open ventilators so that a proper distribution and circulation of air can be maintained, in part as a result of the natural draught resulting from the presence of such ventilators, and in part through to agitate such air and cause it, by suction, .to follow the train in a manner to secure an effective distribution of the fresh air throughout the entire subway system. l

With the above conditions in mind, I have provided a ventilator shutter and its operator, the construction of which is such as to ensure reliability, in the event of an emergency, in the operation of the shutter from a remote control. The construction of the operator and of the shutter is such as to permit Vthe utilization, with each shutter unit, of a power actuated mechanism operative orly upon that unit, thus permitting any desired grouping and arrangement of the shutter unit-s and the application of power from a remote source to the power actuated mechanism associated with each unit as determined by a remote control, or a plurality of such controls so positioned as to be convenient to a ,number .of einployees, diierently located as for example, in the ticket oice, in the despatchers room and in a signal tower. The invention does not conteniplate any particular number or location of the controls.

By the use of fa motor driven actuating mechanism associated with each ventilator shutter unit, it is not only possible to bring an ent-ire .unit and .its operator mechanism within the movement of the trains which tends small space available for the' installation of such mechanisms, but likelihood of the failure 0f the entire ventilator system in an emergency is reduced to a minimum, since the vfailure of the actuating mechanism of one shutter will have no iniiuence upon any of the other shutters.

rlhe ventilator operator mechanism is preferably also used, through the movement of some one of the shutters to control the power actuating the suction fan, when such is usted, thus placing the mechanism for creating the draught in the subway under the direct control of each of the ventilator shutters. I-lence, in the event of the failure of one or all 0f the shutters .t0 properly operate, the system as a whole will never theless function, although with a lessened eiiiciency proportionate to the number of ventilators which have failed to act properly.

Other characteristics of the invention are de tails of construction facilitating the assembly of the operator mechanism in relation to the shutter of the ventilator.

The invention consists primarily in an operator for ventilators embodying therein a shaft extending transversely of the ventilator opening, means connecting and supporting a shutter from said shaft, bars projecting beyond the wall at the side of the ventilator opening, bearings for said shaft in said bars, a housing carried by one of said bars, a reversible electric motor within said housing, a gear train between said motor and said shaft, a Source of power, electrical connections between said source of po-wer and said motor, and a control remote from said motor ineluded in said electrical connections; and in such other novel features Of construction and ,Combination of parts as are hereinafter set fol-th and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

Referring to the drawings,

Fig. 1 shows a group of ventilator shutters, ,the various shutters being horizontally broken and condensed and the power mechanism vfor actuating the shutter being shown in dotted lines.;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2?-2 of Fig. 1 upon a larger scale with a portion of the cover for the housing broken away;

Fig. 3 is a sect-ion on the line l3.-,3 of Fig. 1 with a portion of the top of the housing broken away;

Fig. 4 is atop viewat .one side .of the ventilator opening upon a larger scale showing the position of the lambs;

Fig. 5 is a ,section on the line 5-5 of Fig. A;

Fig. 6 is a diagram showing the wiring used :in the operator.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the .several views.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, 10 indicates a portion of the wall of a subway or other structure having therein a plurality of ventilator openings 11. At opposite sides of this opening are angle metal bars 12 having one flange projecting inwardly of the opening. At one end of theopening is a Z-bar 13 also projecting within the opening and providing a stop for limiting the oscillatory movement of a damper or shutter 14 adapted to close the opening 1l.

The openings 11 are ordinarily in the roof of the subway or other structure, although they may be in a side wall adjacent the roof, or be otherwise located according to the desired system of ventilation. Each opening has a shutter or damper plate 14.

` The conditions of use and location of the various ventilator openings and shuttersA or damper plates prevents ready access thereto, and it is therefore desirable to provide an operator for these shutters or damper plates so simple in its construction and. arrangement of parts, and so controlled as to minimize likelihood of the necessity for readjustment or repair. At the same time it is highly desirable to provide an actuating mechanism or operator, the parts of which are in their entirety so inclosed as to prevent the accumulation of dirt thereon to an extent to interfere with the continued actuation of the shutters or damper plates, notwithstanding that such actuation may occur only at long intervals of time.

Simplicity in the operator and in the wiring system is also highly desirable, as is also a construction which will facilitate the assembly and installation of the operator mechanism in a manner to minimize the amount of work required.

An operator is provided for-each ventilator unit which may include one or more dampers or shutters 14. In the following description, I shall refer rst to the detailed construction of the actuating mechanism for a single unit, it being understood thatY this mechanism is duplicated as to all other units, a number of such units ordinarily being employed. I shall then describe the electrical wiring system in relation to the motors of the several iuiits, and nally the electrical arrangements by which power is applied to the operator and each ventilator unit is electrically connected with a suction fan so that in the event of an emergency, the application of power to the fan will be assured as a result of the movement of one or more of the dampers or shutters.

Referring to the operator proper, I provide two angle metal bars 15 and 16 extending throughout the length of the opening and bolted or otherwise secured to the inwardly directed flanges of the side bars 12 so as to b e spaced from the sides ofthe opening and still provide an effective closure at opposite sides and throughout the length of the opening adjacent the wall 10. The Z-bar 13 is of a length to t between the inwardly directed flanges of the bars 15 and 16 and is spaced from the wall of the opening thus effectively closing the opening at that end thereof when a damper or shutter is in the closed position, and affording clearance for the movement of the damper or shutter. The inwardly directed flange of the bars 15 and 16 extend parallel with the side wall of the opening 11,

The space at the end of the opening opposite said Z-bar, affording clearance for the movement of the damper or shutter, is effectively closed by spaced angle bars 17 and 18, offset in relation to the Z-bar so as to beengaged by the opposite face of the damper or shutter. (See Fig. 2.)

Spaced angle bars 17 and 18 are used in orderv to reinforce portions of the damper or shutter, as will more fully appear hereinafter.

The damper or shutter 14 consists of a metal plate having secured thereto a reinforcing angle bar 19 extending lengthwise of the shutter and located along the center line thereof. Similar angle metal reinforcing bars 20 and 21 are positioned toward the opposite sides of the damper or shutter. Secured to the damper or shutter, adjacent each reinforcing bar 19, 2f) and 21 is an ear 22 having an angular opening therein. These ears constitute the means by which the operator is connected with the damper or shutter 14.

The ange of the side bars 15 and 16, which extends parallel with the side walls of an opening 11, has openings therein located midway of the length of the opening, or approximately so, which openings are adapted to receive bearing bushings 23 and 24 which have a close driving t in these openings so as to facilitate the mounting of the actuating shaft in the side bars 15 and 16 after such side bars are in position.

Each damper or shutter has connected therewith, by means of the ears 22, an actuating shaft 25 which is angular in cross section so as to have a free sliding fit in said ears. This shaft is provided with rounded portions bearing in the bushings 23 and 24. One end of the shaft is squared as shown 26 for the reception of a segmental gear 27, by means of which power is applied to the shaft. When more than one damper or shutter is included in a unit, the shafts 25 of the different dampers or shutters may be coupled together in any desired manner so as to ensure the simultaneous application of power to the dampers or shutters of that unit from a single motor.

It will be noted that each damper or shutter is substantially balanced so as to require very little power to actuate same.

l Permanently connected with the flange of one of the side bars as 15 which is connected with the angle bar 12, is a fitting 28 having mounted thereon a narrow motor housing 29, within which is mounted a small poliphase induction motor indicated at 30, the shaft of the rotor of which is provided with a small pinion 31. from the motor housing 29 is a stud bearing 32 upon which is mounted a large gear 33 enmeshed with the pinion 31 and carrying a small pinion 34 enmeshed with the segmental gear 27.

Inclosing the motor housing and the gears 27, 33 and 34 is a housing 35, suitably slottedto pass the shaft 25. This housing is provided with outlet openings 36 through which the wiring to the motor may be run. The housing 29 is yalso provided with suitable outlet openings for the passage of such wires to the motor.

By reason of the balanced condition of each damper or shutter in a unit, very little power is required to actuate same, thus permitting the use of a type of motor which may be mounted in the small space available for the purpose, the width of the motor and the gear train connecting same with the shaft 25 being less than the depth of the iiange of the bar 15 which is connected to the side bar 12. By constricting the width of the opening 11 by the use of the bars' 12 and angle bars 15 and 16, ample space is provided for the operator in its entirety without encroaching upon the space between adjacent openings 11.

Projecting The type of motor used is one requiring no 15G Y damper or shutter.

lubrication and one which has no commutator or brushes requiring attention, so that when the operator is once installed it requires no attention, which is highly desirable in View of its inaccessibility.

The motor and the gears 33 and 34 may be assembled and mounted upon the bar 15 while in the shop. Hence the assembly operation requires only a proper positioning of the shaft 25 in the ears 22, the attachment of the segmental gear 27 thereto, its enmeshment with the pinion 34, and the driving of the bushings 23 and 24 in the openings in the bars 15 and 16.

Secured to the iianges l5 and 16 respectively are angle jamb bars 36a and 36h extending from adjacent the shaft 25 to the opposite ends of the opening 1l, the bars 36a, being positioned upon one side, and the bars 36h being positioned upon the other side, of the shutter. The location of these bars is such that when the damper or shutter is in the fully closed position, opposite faces thereof will engage the bars 36a and 36h at each side thereof, thus substantially closing the gaps at the sides of the damper or shutter, and affording additional stops limiting the turning movement thereof.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings, I have illustrated two ventilator units, one consisting of two dampers or shutters and the other consisting of one In Fig. 6 of the drawings, the wiring diagram illustrates the electrical conditions with such an arrangement. Referring to Fig. 6, the lines 37, 38 and 39 are mains from an electrical source. A three-phase current is used. At any desired, conveniently accessible, point is a switch box having therein three switches 40, 4l and 42 controlled by an electromagnet 43 in a holding circuit, and three other switches 44, 45 and 46 controlled by an electromagnet 47 in a holding circuit independent of the holding the circuit of the magnet 43. The lines 37, 38 and 39 are connected through the leads 48, 49 and 50 with the xed terminals of the switches 40, 41 and 42, said lines also being connected with the fixed contacts of the switches 44, 45 and 46 by the leads 51, 52 and 53.

The switches 42 and 46 are both in electrical connection with the same terminal of each of the motors 30 by the lead 54; the switches 41 and 44 are both connected with a second terminal of said motors by the lead although the switch 4l is connected with the line 38 and the switch 44 is connected with the line 37; and the switches 40 and 45 are both connected by the i. lead 56 with a third terminal of each of said motors although the switch 40 is connected with the main line 37 while the switch 45 is connected with the main line 38. Hence, by the closing of the switches 40, 41 and 42, power will be applied to the motors in a manner to cause them to turn in one direction while the closing of the switches 44, 45 and 46 will apply power to the motors in a manner to cause them to turn in the opposite direction.

At 57, 58 and 59, l have shown three manually operative switch mechanisms, each having a constant pressure opening switch and a constant pressure closing switch. These switches are located at a point remote from the various ventilator openings 1l and from each other so as to permit the application of power to the motors from different points.

The opening switch of the control 57 is shown at 60, and the closing switch at 61. The opening switch of the control 58 is shown at 62, and

the closing switch at 63, while the opening switch of the control 59 is shown at 64, and the closing switch at 65.

Leading to the various opening switches 60, 62 and 64 are branch lines 66, 67 and 68 electrically connected by the lead 69 with the winding of the magnet 43 and the main line 37 through the leads 70 and 48. Also leading from both the switches of the controls 57, 58 and 59 are branch lines 7l, 72 and 73 connected through the lead 74 with the line 50 which in turn is connected with the main line 39.

Each of the closing switches 61, 63 and 65-is connected through a branch line 75, 76 or 77 with a lead 78 which is connected through the winding of the magnet 47 with the main line 37 through the leads 79 and 48.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that by the actuation of any of the switches 60, 62 or 64, the magnet 43 will be energized and thus connect the poles of the motors 30 with the main lines 37, 38 and 39 in a manner to cause the turning of the motor in one direction, but that with the closing of the switches 6l, 63 and 65, the magnet 47 will be energized to cause the closing of the switches 44, 45 and 46 so as to apply the three-phase current from the mains 37, 38 and 39 in a manner to change the polarity of the eld oi the motors in a manner to cause a reversal in the direction of rotation thereof.

Again referring to Fig. 6 of the drawings, there is shown conventionally at 80, a motor of the suction fan hereinbefore referred to. Leading from a source are electrical mains 81 and 82, one of which is connected directly with one pole of the motor and the other of which is connected to the opposite pole of said motor, through one or both of the switch mechanisms 83 and 85. The fixed contact of each of said switches is connected through the lead 86 and branch line 87 with the main 82, while the movable contact thereof is connected with one pole of the motor 80 by the lead 88 and branch lines 89 connected with the movable contact of said switches respectively. Carried by each damper or shutter 14 is a striker member 90 adapted when the damper or shutter is closed to engage the movable contact of, and close, a switch 83 or 85 thus ensuring the application of power to the motor 80 simultaneously with the closing of any or all of said shutters.

In order to ensure such application of power to the motor, the switches 83 and 85 are arranged in parallel so that the closing of any switch will have the desired effect so far as the starting and continued operation of the suction fan is concerned.

It will also be noted that the motors 30 operiative upon the various dempers or shutters are connected in parallel so as to guard against possibility of more than a partial 'failure in a proper closing of the various ventilator units in the event of an emergency.

The operation oi the herein described mechanism is substantially as follows:-

The number and arrangement of ventilator openings and dempers or shutters therefore will vary with different ventilating systems, being spaced intermediate subway entrances as required to ensure a circulation of fresh air throughout the subway. Normally, the dempers or shutters are open. In the event of an emergency, however, accompanied by smoke or fumes within the subway, the suction fan. is placed in operation to Withdraw such smoke or fumes from about their source, ordinarily a train. carrying passengers, .to- 15g ward one of the subway entrances, and thus afford a path for the escape of passengers toward the entrance of the subway beyond the end oi the train in a direction opposite to that at which the fan is located against the current of incoming fresh air. In this manner fresh air is drawn through one subway entrance toward and along the train to the next subway entrance. The ventilator openings, however, are located between these two entrances, and in` order to ensure effective action of the fan to develop the desired circulation of fresh air, these openings should be closed.

Emergencies of the character above referred to arise infrequently, and consequently motor driven operators for actuating the dampers or shutters controlling the ventilator openings are seldom actuated. This lack of use makes it highly desirable to employ operators which require little or no attention after once being installed, as well as to use a simple mechanism so arranged and protected as to avoid possibility of its being made inoperative by reason of the accumulation of dust and dirt about same during long intervals of disuso.

In the structure or" the invention, when an attendant at a station receives word of an accident between his station and an adjoining station, whether this attendant be in the switch tower, the despatchers room or in the ticket office, he immediately presses that constant pressure closing switch Sl, 63 or 65 which is' convenient to his hand. IIe may, at the same time, close a circuit to the suction fan. Immediately upon the closing of the circuit at one or more of these switches, which are connected in parallel, the circuit is closed to all of the motors 30 controlled from that particular subway station by any of such switches.

The closing of a switch in the manner above described causes the actuation of the motors associated with each unit within the affected area, thus simultaneously rotating all of the dampers or shutters in a manner to effectively close the ventilator opening. When any or" the dampers or shutters reaches the closed position, the contact 90 carried thereby will actuate its co-operating switch 83, or 85 and thus close a circuit to the motor for the suction fan. If desired, this may be the only means employed for energizing the motor of said fan, but if other controls for the circuit to the motor are employed, any switch 83, or will act as an electric interlock to avoid possibility of the interruption of the circuit to said motor as long as the dampers or shutters are closed.

The main advantage of the operator of my invention resides in the simplicity and small dimensions' of its parts, and the adaptability of the structure to be fitted to small, inaccessible, closely adjacent openings without any material expense of installation. A further great advantage is a'combination and construction of parts which, when the operator is once installed, will require no further attention over long periods of time, and which are so protected as to obviate possibility of the free operation of the various parts being interfered with by the accumulation of dust and dirt, notwithstanding the exposed position of the mechanism.

By using a plurality of ventilator units, each with its individual motor driven operator, and connecting the motors of the several operators in parallel, the dampers or shutters at all of the ventilator openings will be simultaneously actuated, but in the event of the failure of the oper--` ator of any unit to function properly, the remaining operators will close the ventilators with which they are associated in a manner to assure the setting up of an effective circulation by the suction fan even though there may be a partial loss of its efficiency. The arrangement described permits any desired positioning of the ventilator units.

A11-operator' embodying the invention may be economically produced and installed, the assembly o'f the greater portion of the parts being done in the shop, and the work of installation being simplined and' minimized to a degree which ensures low installation cost.

It is not my intention to limit the invention to the precise details of construction shown in the accompanying drawings, it being apparent that such is capable of wide variation without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to have protected by Letters Patent, is:-

l. An operator for ventilators embodying therein a shaft extending transversely of the ventilator opening, means connecting and supporting a shutter from said shaft, bars projecting beyond the wall at the side of the ventilator opening, bearings for said shaft in said bars, a housing carried by one of said bars, a reversible electric motor within said housing, a gear train between said motor and said shaft, a source of power, electrical connections between said source of power and said motor, and a control remote from said motor included in said electrical connections. 110

2. An operator for ventilators embodying therein a shaft extending transversely of the vent-ilator opening, means connecting and supporting a shutter from said shaft, bars projecting beyond the wall at the side of the ventilator opening, having alined openings therein, .bushings having a driving t in said openings and forming bearings for said shaft in said bars, a housing carried by one of said bars, a reversible electric motor within said housing, a gear train between said 120 motor and said shaft, a source of power', electrical connections between said source of power and said motor, and a control remote from said motor included in said electrical connections.V

3. AnV operator for ventilators embodying therein a shaft extending transversely of the ventilator opening, means connecting and supporting a shutter from said shaft, bars projecting beyond the wall at the side of the ventilator opening, bearings for said shaft in said bars, a 130 housing carried by one of said bars, a reversible electric motor within said housing, a .segmental gear carried by and movable with said shaft, a connected gear and pinion mounted adjacent said segment, with the pinion enmeshed with 135 said segment, a gear upon the shaft of said motor enmeshed with said gear, a source of power, electrical connections between said source of power and said motor, and a control remote from said motor included in said electrical connections.

4. An operator for ventilators embodying therein a shaft extending transversely of the ventilator opening, means connecting and supporting a shutter from said shaft, bars project-1 M5 ing beyond the wall at the side of the ventilator opening, having alined openings therein, bushings having a driving t in said openings and forming bearings for said shaft in said bars, a housing carried by one of said bars, a reversible 150 electric motor within said housing, a segmental gear carried by and movable with said shaft, a connected gear and pinion mounted adjacent said segment, with the pinion enmeshed with said segment, a gear upon the shaft of said motor enmeshed with said gear, a source of power, electrical connections between said source of power and said motor, and a control remote from said motor included in said electrical connections.

5. An operator for ventilators embodying therein a shaft extending transversely of the ventilator opening, means connecting and supporting a shutter from said shaft, bars projecting beyond the wall at the side of the ventilator opening, bearings for said shaft in said bars, angle jamb bars carried by said bars respectively, extending from adjacent said shaft to the opposite ends of the ventilator opening and positioned upon opposite sides of the shutter, a housing carried by one of said bars, a reversible electric motor within said housing, a gear train between said motor and said shaft, a source of power, electrical connections between said source of power and said motor, and a control remote from said motor included in said electrical connections.

6. An operator for ventilators embodying therein ashaft extending transversely of the ventilator opening, means connecting and supporting a shutter from said shaft, reinforcing angle bars carried by said shutter, ears connected with said angle bars projected from said shutter and having an angular opening therein, said shaft being angular in cross section as to the part thereof co-operating with said ears, bars projecting beyond the wall at the side of the ventilator opening, bearings for said shaft in said bars, a housing carried by one of said bars, a reversible electric motor within said housing, a gear train between said motor and said shaft, a source of power, electrical connections between said source of power and said motor, and a control remote from said motor included in said electrical connections.

'7. An operator for ventilators embodying therein a shaft extending transversely of the ventilator opening, means connecting and supporting a shutter from said shaft, bars projecting beyond the wall at the side of the ventilator opening, bearings for said shaft in said bars, a housing carried by one of said bars, a reversible electric motor within said housing, a gear train between said motor and said shaft, a source of power, electrical connections between said source of power and said motor, a control remote from said motor included in said electrical connections, a motor for actuating a suction fan, electrical connections to said motor, a switch controlling said connections, and a contact member carried by the shutter and operative to close said switch with the closing of the shutter.

8. An operator for ventilators embodying therein a shaft extending transversely of the ventilator opening, means connecting and supporting a shutter from said shaft, bars projecting beyond the wall at the side of the ventilator opening, bearings for said shaft in said bars, a housing carried by one of said bars, a reversible electric motor within said housing, a gear train between said motor and said shaft, a source of power, electrical connections between said source of power and said motor, a switch box containing therein two pole changing switches, said switch box being positioned remote from said shutters, electromagnets controlling the operation of said switches respectively, and manually operative switches controlling the circuits to said magnets respectively, said manually operative switches being remote from said switch box and from said shutters.

9. An operator for ventilators embodying therein a shaft extending transversely of the ventilator opening, means connecting and supporting a shutter from said shaft, bars projecting beyond the wall at the side of the ventilator opening, bearings for said shaft in said bars, a housing carried by one of said bars, a reversible electric motor within said housing, a gear train between said motor and said shaft, a housing also secured to said bar inclosing said motor housing and said gearing, said motor housing and said other housing having outlet openings therein, a source of power, electrical connections between said source of power and said motor, and a control remote from said motor included in said electrical connections.

ROBERT S. PEELLE. 

